Copeland

Copeland's population grew older in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, health and marriage.

The population reached nearly 71,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Copeland increased by 1.9%, from about 69,300 to 70,600.

The addition of almost 1,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Copeland was home to, on average, 0.69 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Copeland

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Copeland increased by five years, from 39 to 44 years.

This industrial area had a higher average age than the North West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 1,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 13% of people in Copeland are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Copeland by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

Private renting increased in Copeland, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas across England, except Isles of Scilly.

Across the North West, the proportion of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in Barrow-in-Furness (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Copeland) increased from 9.5% to 14%.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (8.7%) households in Copeland rented privately, compared with 6.7% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes decreased from 23% to 19%.

England's largest decrease in the proportion of privately rented homes occurred in Isles of Scilly (from 32% to 30%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

Private renting in Copeland increased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Copeland, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

Copeland saw England's largest fall in the proportion of unemployed people.

In 2011, just over 1 in 25 (4.2%) people aged 16 to 74 in Copeland said they were unemployed, compared with 5.0% in 2001. The percentage that were employed increased from 50% to 54%.

Wolverhampton saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of unemployed people (from 5.3% to 7.9%).

The rate of unemployment was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Copeland working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 8.9% to 7.2% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 50 (2.1%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Copeland decreased by 1.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Copeland, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Copeland

The number of people in Copeland that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 60,000 in 2001 to about 56,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 86% to 79% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the North West (from 78% to 67%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Copeland that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 4,900 in 2001 to just over 10,000 in 2011 (from 7.0% to 14%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 4,300 to about 4,100 (from 6.2% to 5.9%).

Just under 230 people (0.2%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 130 in 2001 (0.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Christian in Copeland decreased by 7.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Copeland by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

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